The Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) eligibility auditing has been handed over from Children’s Education Advisory Service to the new SPVA’s CEA Governance Team. Jeremy Watt, Deputy Head of the Children’s Education Advisory Service explains why.

T

he Children’s Education Advisory Service (CEAS) offers impartial information, advice and support to

Service families about anything to do with their children’s education. In September 08, however, it was also tasked to work with the assignment authorities and commanding officers in assessing the eligibility of potential applicants to claim the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) – Board and of existing claimants in respect of their continuing eligibility to claim the allowance.

As a result CEAS has borne much of the, largely unforeseen, administrative burden

associated with this work and, consequently, its overall performance has suffered significantly. In addition, its impartiality in the eyes of the Service community has been compromised by having to fulfil a role in the ‘policing’ of the eligibility of Service personnel for this allowance.

In the light of these concerns and MoD’s continuing determination to ensure that CEA eligibility rules are scrupulously observed by all concerned, it has been decided that this aspect of CEAS’s function will be managed and administered by a new team within the Service Personnel and Veteran’s Agency (SPVA).

The new Team has been established and resourced specifically for the purpose and is

called the CEA Governance Team (CEAGT). It is based at Imjin Barracks in Gloucester and became operational on 3 October 11. Service personnel and their families wishing to make initial or further applications for CEA Eligibility Certificates will still be required to approach CEAS in the first instance, to receive advice about the process and to be sent the appropriate forms.

CEAGT will operate a Helpline for Service personnel and their families, in respect of case work already submitted to them. The number to call is: 01452 712612 Ext 5693 and the email address: SPVA-DMSCEAGTGroupMailbox@mod. uk. All this and more about the change is published in DIN 2011-01-195.

HERE’S JUST ONE OF THE THINGSWE DO...

SSAFA FACT #04 Last year alone, our community volunteers provided more than 11,000 hours of practical and emotional support, carrying out 1,254 visits.